LONDON (Reuters) – A 12-year-old British boy appeared in court Wednesday charged with assault for throwing a sausage at a pensioner, police said.

The boy’s mother described the decision to charge her son as “an absolute joke,” although police said they had no choice.

The youth, who can’t be named, was arrested after a 74-year-old man reported him to police for throwing a stone in Manchester, northern England.

The object turned out to be a cocktail sausage.

“Charging was the only option because the boy had previously been issued with three reprimands on separate occasions,” a Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman said.

Police and prosecutors have launched a joint review of the case after a judge at Manchester Youth Court reportedly urged them to reconsider.

“If he has done what was suggested it is very bad behavior,” District Judge Tim Devas was reported as saying in the Manchester Evening News. “But is it in the public interest to prosecute a 12-year-old boy who threw a sausage?”

The boy’s mother said her son was worried he might be sent to prison.

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This weekend we drove up to Boston to see some friends. They live in the UK but came to Boston to visit their parents/in-laws. The drive was really nice and only took 5.5 hours. The trip took us through 6 states – Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York (part of Manhattan actually), Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

While in Boston we had some fresh sea food. I had a steamed lobster and -k had some scallops. We then went to a couple of local bars. While driving around we saw Harvard University and Boston College.

Day two we went on a whale watching tour and yes, we actually saw some whales. There was a group of about 3 or 4 humpback whales hanging out and swimming around and under the tour boat. The boat would slowly spin around so everyone could have a chance to take a look at the whales, but instead everyone just kept running from one side of the boat to the other in a mad rush. In addition to turning this peaceful occasion into a frenzy, people would ooh’s and aah’s every time a whale would pop up. I enjoyed ignoring the crowd and watching the whales. Very cool.

After the tour we went to Pizzeria Regina in the North End. I would have to say in regards to the flavor of the crust it is a perfect pizza. I would go to Boston again just to go there.

It was at 06.10 local time, that a jubilant UT proclaimed to his sleeping wife ‘Got ‘im!’ UT Hooligan aged 32 from United Kingdom, has stalked his prey for four days with military precision.  Carefully tracking his nemesis across the garden, UT could often be heard muttering taunts such as ‘You’re over there aren’t you? You little bastard…but you’ll have to come back this way eventually and then I’ll ’ave you!’

UT’s preparations were extensive in this operation, living up to his motto of ‘Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance’. To the extent that UT was seen by his wife trying out the trap on a carrot to ensure that death would be swift, should any carrots inadvertently happen across the trap. The moles’ crime has most notably been the production of over twenty hills in the Hooligan garden, much to the chargrin of Bee (UTs’ wife), who has had to flatten them and shovel the earth off at speed, before her husband sets off with the lawn mower. The two eldest Hooligan children were woken immediately, so that they could experience a real live dead mole.  The Hooligan parents felt that this was a good grounding for life in East Anglia.

In a spurt of self-honesty, UT stated that he ‘may not do DIY, but nobody could say that he couldn’t catch things’ and also pointed out that this was probably going to be ‘the best part of his whole fucking day’ as he departed for work. UT is currently awaiting his acceptance into local society, as he has now proved unequivocally with the catching of the mole that he is ‘no wet-arsed townie’

  

 

Mole - No comment

Well, there are so many things going wrong in the world today that it would be to easy just to jump onto Biblicone and apologise or extend sympathy for every killing, war, accident, tsunami, famine, etc.   We (I) wouldnt get much ranting done if that was the case, but there has obviously been quite a bit of chatter over this side of the pond regarding American gun laws and so forth since the V Tech shootings, and I have decided to fling my opinion out into the wind. 

The UK has a gun law. It basically states that “you can’t have one”.  But that does nothing to deter the flood of such weapons on to British streets; predominantly city and poorer communities, and the use of such is always criminal.  Still, as long as our Police don’t carry them then I suppose everyone can carry on pretending it isnt really an issue.  Our teenagers prefer to get drunk and kick the crap out of property or other people, but they can’t have a gun.  Thats fine.  Thats what happens over here, but that isnt to say I don’t understand that guns are part of American culture and so it shouldnt be changed purely on a few incidents.  I ride motorbikes and am lucky enough to have survived flying up the road at break neck speeds (without bike) all because of a patch of oil.  But, I know how dangerous bikes are and so do many thousands of others who venture out on the mad mile every Sunday, just to go faster than the chair they whizz round the office in and feel a little bit of freedom.  People die on bikes.  Statistics tend to show that bikers dont survive accidents and regardless of the amount ot accidents on any one road, bikers still wang it like demons and I have never met anyone who has sold their bike saying “It’s too dangerous” and nor would Government dare change this culture.  So, why the hell do we go on about gun laws in the US? In my mind it’s the same.  I might be wrong, but then I carry a gun in my job and so Im fairly relaxed about it all. 

Anyway. Rant over. 

Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, 25, from Berkshire, England, died in an attack by US warplanes in Iraq in March 2003.  It was a “Blue on Blue” incident, and not one of malice. But, the inquest into his death is causing quite a bit of news over here, primarily because of the cockpit footage (with sound) from the A10 Tank Buster, which the Ministry of Defence (MoD) denied the existence of.  And then, when the video did come to light, the MoD refused to enter it into evidence at the hearing because it was classified Secret (within the collective agencies).  Things being as they are, the video entered the public domain soon after when a tabloid managed to get a copy of the footage and the video was subsequently declassified by the US in order for it to be viewed at the inquest.

Well, apart from the egg on the face of the MoD, which is not the most trusted office at present (in the eys of the public), and whether it will have to answer for its denied stance, is whether the pilot(s) of the aircraft involved will face a court regarding their actions.  Allegedly, the pilot(s), not yet named, are still serving, have been promoted (one to colonel) and are teaching novice pilots how to fly.  Bear in mind that the same pilots were apparently novice in 2003 also.

Having watched part of the footage, heard the recorded voices and read the transcript of the incident, I don’t suspect anything above and beyond a blue on blue, which although tragic and sad is an unfortunate occurrence in war.  But, I do harbour other concerns regarding the way Britain willingly handed over four bankers to US courts for trial on some money/fraud incident, yet when the shoe is on the other foot the US doesnt appear so willing to show openess.  Now, I understand it can be fragile, but I very much doubt the classification of the footage served to protect any deeper operational need other than to perhaps avoid what may (hopefully not) move on to a hunt to identify the pilots.

The important part. The only part is putting to rest an incident whereby soldiers of the same coalition happened upon each other and a death ensued.  Perhaps we can learn why.  Perhaps we can learn how not to let it happen again.

If you are interested in reading up on this story and keeping abreast, follow the BBC.  Strangely, I didn’t find mention of it on a US Site, but I am probably mistaken.

Whilst the Americans cannot be legally obliged to help, they should do so, bearing in mind they are our allies

Constitutional Affairs minister Harriet Harman

Origin: English

The name Standeven came to England with the ancestors of the Standeven family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Standeven family lived in Gloucestershire, at Standish.

Spelling variations of this family name include: Standish, Standishe, Standich, Standidge and others.

First found in Gloucestershire where they were seated from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Dorothy Standich who settled in Virginia in 1635; Sarah Standidge settled in New England in 1753; James Standish settled in Virginia in 1623; George Standish with his wife Dorothy settled in Virginia in 1643. and Captain Miles Standish sailed on the “Mayflower” in 1620.

Then I wrote this post.

Guns and bombs, guns and bombs – boring, boring, boring. I’m sick of things going bang. Listen: if the world MUST slide into unbridled chaos and savagery, if we really ARE doomed to splutter our last lying face-down in individual pools of our own viscera, can’t we be dispatched more creatively?
Take massacres. It’s been ages since anyone went berserk with a firearm in this country (UK), and obviously that’s a good thing, mainly because insane machine-gun rampages are just so 90s. Even so, it won’t be long before we see crazed terrorists scampering through the streets toting AK-47s, drilling pedestrians to sausagemeat with big beatific grins on their faces. Well where’s the challenge in that, you pussies? It’s far too one-sided. Obviously, harbouring belief in any kind of religion whatsoever betrays a crushing lack of imagination, but really, that’s pathetic – like stamping on ants.

If you’re hell-bent on wiping us out, at least put some effort into it. Arm yourself with nothing but a frying pan and a saw, and if you manage to score a bodycount in double figures, then maybe I’ll respect you. Otherwise, up yours. You’re boring.
Bombs are equally lazy. There’s nothing you can do about a bomb going off, short of psychically foretelling the blast and running away. There’s no sport to it. I’m getting bored of being frightened of bombs. Give me something new to fret about. Here’s an idea: an ankle-height laser beam that sweeps across densely populated concourses in the blink of an eye; a sheet of light slicing everyone’s feet off simultaneously. Imagine the chaos! It’d be more humane too, since there’s a good chance you could surgically re-attach the feet later – although matching each foot to its rightful owner would be a logistical nightmare. Chances are you’d end up with a size 10 and a size three. Still, it’d break the ice at parties.

Actually, even foot removal is too violent. The thing I don’t grasp about terrorism is why it has to involve violence at all. Detonating a gigantic bag of manure in a crowded space would make the same point far more eloquently – and the victims would still be around to put pressure on the government to do something to ease the crisis. Indiscriminate slaughter isn’t just barbaric and selfish – it’s immature and idiotic. Any budding terrorists reading this now: toss those detonators in the bin and try being man enough to change people’s minds via some other method for once. Girls will respect you. Only wankers kill people. Whether you’re a head of state or a disgruntled fanatic, the moment you get blood on your hands, you’ve become a massive wanker.

Come to think of it, that’s how the news should be reported. “Thirty people were killed today when a massive wanker blew himself up in a busy marketplace” has quite a ring to it, as does “President Wanker”, or “Prime Minister Wanker”. In fact, why doesn’t every bloodthirsty cretin prolonging this sorry dispute simply paint the word “Wanker” on their forehead and piss off to a remote island somewhere, where they can fight it out with pans and saws while the rest of us settle our differences using non-violent means? We’ve got the imagination to succeed. What’ve they got? Hairy palms and firearms, and that’s about it.

-Charlie Brooker

Mad buggers driving like mentalists on the way home tonight. My new commute is 60 miles and there is a stretch of road approximately 15 miles consisting of twists and bends.  This road, though pleseant enough, is a race track to the powerful commuter in his powerful car and the overtaking left me thinking that I WILL see a death on this road at some point. Anyway…bugger the lot of em! Otherwise, my day has been okay. Here is some of what I read today:

US must act to prevent insurgent war

Microsoft tackles anti-copy hole

Uk readers blocked from reading a NY Times report

And this which I think is a good idea if it means I don’t have to spend money!! BUT…I dont live in the places where it is on offer, so again I luck out. If the government has a say in this coming to the UK then I can guarantee it won’t be free.